NEW CHAIRMAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1938, Page 8

NEW CHAIRMAN

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL. COUNCILLOR LEE ELECTED. Councillor R. E. Gordon Lee was elected chairman of the Masterton County Council at the annual meeting .of the council today. On the County Clerk, Mi- J. C. D. Mackley, calling for nominations, Councillor H. H. Mawley nominated Mr W. I. Armstrong (retiring chairman) and Councillor J. Donald seconded the motion. Councillor J. W. Colquhoun nominated Councillor Lee. In doing so, he said he would like to say that Mr Armstrong, during his term of office, had done very well. He considered the position should go round and possibly a change was a good as a rest. Councillor P. R. Welch seconded Councillor Colquhoun’s nomination, and on a vote being taken Councillor Lee was elected, those voting for him being Councillors G. Moore, Colquhoun, Welch and Lee. Councillor Lee thanked the councillors for the honour conferred on him. He stated Mr Armstrong had been a very good chairman and so long as, he upheld what had been done in the past everything would be all right. If at the end of twelve months the councillors felt that he had not done his duty he was quite prepared to stand down. Councillor Welch congratulated Councillor Lee on his election. He stated that some members had not seen eye to eye with Mr Armstrong. In some things they had totally disagreed with him, though during his term of office he had carried out his duties with dignity and courtesy. Councillor Mawley also congratulated Councillor Lee, stating that he did not know there was likely to be any further nomination. He paid a tribute to the work of Mr Armstrong as chairman. He had carried out his duties very well. All councillors were there to ventilate their opinions and he respected any man who had opinions of his own.

Mr Armstrong said he had quite expected a change, but he was not worrying about it. After the argument they had had about uniform rating it was to be expected. He congratulated Councillor Lee on his election. “Probably more will be heard about the matter later on,” added Mr Armstrong. AU members of the council were appointed a finance committee of which Councilor Mawley was re-elected chairman.

Appreciative reference was made by councillors to the excellent and comprehensive report submitted by the Clerk (Mr Mackley), covering the year’s operations, a summary of which appears elsewhere in this issue.